Method of producing continuous or constant electric discharges in gases.



G. P. R. VON KOCH. METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTINUOUS 0R CONSTANT ELECTRIC DISOHAEGES IN GASES.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.- 20, 1911.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914.

M M M m m f WW UNITED s'rATEs PATENT curios- CARL FABIAN RICHERT VON KOCH, OF STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

METHOD OF PRODUCING CONTINUOUS OR CONSTANT ELECTRIC DISCHARGES IN GASES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL FABIAN R1- CHERT VON K0011, a subject of the Kin of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden, have invented a new and useful Method of Producing Continuous or Constant Electric Discharges in Gases, of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to the drawing accompanying and forming a part hereof.

It is well-known that, in using electric arcs for producing reactions in gases, inductive or other resistances must be included in the circuit of the arc, in order to secure a sufficient stability of '"the same. The said resistances decrease the effectiveness of the source of current feeding the arc and, nevertheless, cannot prevent the arc from being rather easily extinguished by rapid movements of the gas or gases.

The object of thls invention is to produce continuous or constant electric discharges in gases, without the said drawback arising.

The invention consists, chiefiy, in supplying gas or gases to the discharge gap or gaps in a heated condition in which they are wholly or partly electrically conductive. By this means it has been possible to obtain electric discharges of incomparably greater stability and having otherwise quite other properties than those of the electric arcs hitherto known.

In the drawing, I have shown diagrammatically a contrivance adapted to be used for carrying my improved method into effect.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a chamber in which an electric are supplied with current from a generator or source of current 2 is formed between the electrodes 3 and 4. The gas or gases to be treated are supplied to the chamber 1 and heated therein to a temperature in which they are wholly or partly electrically conductive. From the chamber 1 the gas or gases pass into the chamber 5 which communicates with the former and in which the process forming the subject-matter of this invention takes place. The chamber 5 suitably has the form of a tube which may have a constant cross-sectional area which may taper toward one end, as may be desired. As the heated gas reaches this chamber, electric discharges will take place between the electrodes 6 and 7 connected to the generator or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 20, 1911.

Patented Nov. 3, 1914. Serial No. 615,700.

source of current 8. By these means it is possible to obtain continuous electric discharges, without any considerable resistance being included in the circuit, even if the average speed of the gases amounts to 50 or 100 meters per second, or still more. So great a speed is desirable when the heated gas or gases are to be rapidly cooled, for instance by causing the same to flow into a cold room, or against a cold current of air or water or the like, or by using cooled electrodes, or otherwise. The walls of the chamber 5 suitably consist of insulating material. As such a material a layer of cold air or other gas introduced at or near the electrodes may be used. The pairs of electrodes may be connected in parallel, or in series, and they may be of any number according to the number of discharge gaps. Generally, a sufliciently high temperature is obtained by using two pairs of electrodes, as shown in the drawing. If the said pairs of electrodes are connected in series, the intensity of current tends to be about the same in both discharge gaps.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous to give one or more of the electrodes the form of a ring or short pipe or tube serving at the same time as a passage for gas or gases to be treated. If desired, two adjacent electrodes, such as 4 and 6, may be replaced by a single electrode, which in such case is common to both discharge gaps. The burning or overheating of the electrodes may, obviously, be prevented by cooling the same by water, or air, or otherwise.

The gas or gases supplied may suitably have a rotary movement imparted to the same by which they will also be more evenly distributed. The quantities of energy supplied from the sources of current to the different discharge gaps may be varied according to the results to be attained. Instead of two sources of current more than two or a single one may be used. The source of current may consist of a continuous or alternating current generator or a transformer. If a multiphase generator is employed, each separate phase may advantageously be used for supplying current to one of the discharge gaps.

The electric are or arcs used for heating the gas or gases into an electrically conductive state may also be combined with or replaced by some other source of heat. Thus, for instance, the chamber 1 may be heated by a gas flame instead of by an electric are. In such case the electrodes 3 and 4 may be dispensed with.

I claim:

1. The method of producing electric discharges of great stability in gases which consists in heating the gases by means of constantly burning electric arcs to a temperature in which they are electrically conductive, and producing said electric discharge in such gases.

2. The method of producing electric discharges of great stability in gases which consists in heating the gases by an electric arc to a temperature in which they are. electrically conductive, and producing said discharges in a stream of said gases flowing substantially longitudinally of said electric discharges.

3. The method of producing electric discharges of great stability in gases which consists in heating the gases to a tempera- 'ture in. which they are electrically conductive, and producing said discharges between annular electrodes while causing the heated gases to pass within and between said electrodes.

4. The method of rendering an electric arc discharge stable while subjecting a rapidly flowing stream of gas to the action thereof, which consists in hlghly preheating the gas by an independent source of heat to CARL FABIAN RICHER'l VON KOCH.

Witnesses AUG. SORENSEN, KARL RUNEsKoG. 

